Radiochemical neutron activation analysis: Status in chemical analysis

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA)

OSTI ID:5554841

de Goeij, J J.M.

Neutron activation analysis (NAA) is a powerful technique for determining numerous trace elements in a large variety of samples. The main advantages of NAA are (a) multielement character, (b) low level of determination for a sizeable number of elements, (c) virtual freedom of a blank, (d) generally good selectivity, and (e) absence of interferences due to differences in physical or chemical state. In addition to instrumental NAA, radiochemical NAA (RNAA) is often employed for improvement of the determination limit, accuracy, and/or precision. Radiochemical separations may be performed in various degrees of radiochemical purity, depending of the problem at hand. Since germanium detectors with large active volumes have become available as well as germanium well-type detectors with high geometric efficiency, a noticeable development has progressed in the direction of a combination of minimal post-irradiation chemical efforts with the potentials of germanium gamma spectrometry and computerized data handling, at least in cases in which no ultimate sensitivity is required. Automation has been frequently advocated as an attractive way to solve problems of lengthy and complex radiochemical procedures. In general, it can be said that, whereas instrumental NAA has a strong point in respect to costs and multielement character, RNAA scores high in analytical quality as the main feature. Areas where RNAA remains to play a role in the foreseeable future discussed.

• OSTI ID: 5554841
• Report Number(s): CONF-880601--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA) Journal Volume: 56
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400101* -- Activation
Nuclear Reaction
Radiometric & Radiochemical Procedures
ACCURACY
ACTIVATION ANALYSIS
AUTOMATION
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMISTRY
IMPURITIES
RADIOCHEMISTRY
TRACE AMOUNTS